CHAPTER 80: WHISPERS OF A QUEEN

The fight was brutal from the start.

The first of the hollow-eyed figures lunged at Lucas, its limbs bending at unnatural angles, bones snapping as it moved. Lucas swung his sword in a clean arc, slicing deep into its chest—but it didn’t slow. It only smiled, mouth stretching too wide, too wrong.

A second one came for me, sharp claws tearing through the air. I dodged just in time, but its nails grazed my shoulder, burning like acid on my skin. I shifted mid-motion, the familiar burst of fur and claws erupting as I twisted, slamming into it with my full weight.

We tumbled across the grass, snapping wildflowers beneath us, biting and clawing like rabid things. My jaws locked around its arm—I should’ve broken bone—but it was like biting stone. My teeth ached with the force of it.

Behind me, I heard Lucas grunt in pain.

I twisted my head, heart skipping. One of the figures had gotten past him, grabbing his wrist mid-strike and slamming him down onto the rocky ground with a sickening crack.

"Lucas!"

I tried to run to him, but another creature tackled me from the side, pinning me, its twisted face inches from mine, breath reeking of rot. Its hollow eyes gleamed. "Give in. Stay."

"Never!" I roared, slamming my claws upward into its throat. Black liquid splattered across my fur, thick and foul-smelling, but it didn’t fall—it only hissed, gripping me tighter.

Lucas was losing.

I saw him try to rise—only for one of the hollow things to grab his hair and smash his head into the dirt. His sword was gone, kicked out of reach. Blood spilled from his temple, seeping into the moss beneath him. His chest rose and fell in quick, desperate gasps.

They were going to kill him.

And I—

I couldn’t move fast enough.

"NO!" The scream tore from my throat like something ancient and primal, vibrating with every ounce of fury, pain, and grief inside me.

And then—everything changed.

A crack of light burst from my chest, not white or gold—but silver. Pure, living silver, brighter than the sun, sharp as blades, roaring outward in all directions. The creatures froze, shrieking in a chorus of pain as the silver light swallowed them whole.

My fur stood on end, my claws digging into the ground—but I wasn’t in control anymore. Something older than me, deeper than memory, burned in my veins.

And then... they knelt.

All of them. The twisted figures—these warped guardians of the valley—bowed low, foreheads pressed to the grass, trembling in the glow of my power.

The one closest to me rasped out a single, shaking phrase:

"My Queen... you have returned."

My wolf’s heart slammed against my ribcage.

"What...?" I whispered, breathless, disbelieving. "What did you just call me?"

The creature lifted its head slightly. Its face wasn’t as hollow now—features sharpening into something almost human, though ancient and hollow-eyed. "You... You carry her blood. The Queen of Silver Flame. The one who was lost. You have returned to reclaim what is yours."

I stared at them, heart pounding. "I don’t—I don’t know what you’re talking about."

But they didn’t seem to care about my confusion. They bowed deeper, like worshipers before an altar.

"My Queen."

Behind them, Lucas coughed weakly, dragging himself to his knees, wiping blood from his mouth. His gaze flickered to me, wide with shock. "Athena... What the....?"

I didn’t have answers for him. I barely had them for myself. My pulse was thundering, every breath sharp, panic swirling beneath the power crackling in my skin.

Think.

I didn’t know why they thought I was their queen. I didn’t care. But I knew one thing—I could use it.

I took a step forward, forcing my voice steady. "Give me the key."

Silence.

Then one of the figures rose shakily, cradling something in both hands. A crystalline shard, shaped like a tear, glowing faint blue like the heart of a flame.

"The Queen must take it herself."

I walked forward slowly, the silver light still dancing across my skin. As I reached for the shard, the figure lowered its head reverently.

The moment my fingers closed around it, a warmth pulsed up my arm—comforting, powerful. Ancient magic. I knew—knew—this was it. The key to returning home.

I held it close to my chest. "I have things to do. I will return for what is mine later."

A bold-faced lie—but they nodded anyway, their hollow voices whispering:

"We await you, my Queen."

Without waiting for another word, I grabbed Lucas by the arm and pulled him up. "Let’s go."

He staggered, still bleeding, but managed to keep pace. We limped out of the clearing together, the bowing figures fading behind us, the glowing spire shrinking with every step.

It wasn’t until the strange valley of desires was far behind us, the sweet scent replaced by sharp mountain air, that either of us spoke again.

Lucas finally glanced sideways at me, his face pale, his lip split. "Are you going to explain what just happened?"

I shook my head, heart pounding. "Not until we’re far, far away from here."

The journey back to the kingdom was nothing like the journey out.

The wildness of the Eastern Mountains gave way to thick, suffocating silence. Every step echoed with exhaustion and unspoken words. Lucas walked beside me, bruised, bloodied, limping slightly. His hand occasionally brushed mine, not quite holding, not quite letting go. His jaw was tight the whole way, his expression hard to read.

Neither of us spoke about what had happened back there. About the voices calling me queen. About how they had all knelt before me, giving me the key like I was something ancient returning to claim her throne.

I didn’t want to think about it yet. I didn’t want to feel anything else yet.

All I wanted was to get back, hand the key over, and go home.

But deep down, I knew this wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.